Lin Dongxue thought for a moment and said, "Check the surveillance along the route to see if the woman was captured on camera."
Chen Shi replied, "That's a standard answer, but there are no cameras near the crime scene—Anfu Bridge. Plus, it was dark, and non-police cameras have poor quality. Even if we find something, it might be too blurry to make out."
Lin Dongxue asked, "Can you recreate her appearance?"
Chen Shi smiled, "How many days has it been since the crime?"
"Four days."
"Do you think a driver meets so many people in four days? Ever heard of memory contamination? I'm afraid recreating her face might not even help; it could mislead us." He snapped his fingers. "Let's go!"
"Where to?"
"Let's meet Shen Jun!"
Lin Dongxue called a colleague, who said Shen Jun worked at a foreign company and lived with a few colleagues in a three-bedroom apartment. They went to his place, and a fair-skinned, clean-cut young man with red eyes answered the door. He asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Lin Dongxue showed her badge. "Are you Shen Jun? We need to ask you some questions."
"Come in!"
The apartment was messy, but Shen Jun led them into his tidy bedroom. Chen Shi asked a few questions, and Shen Jun answered them one by one.
He explained he had been dating Gu Mengxing for three years. They met on a social game, and after meeting in person, they started dating. Gu Mengxing worked at a pharmaceutical company and was very likable. Shen Jun was proud to be with her and even wanted to marry her.
"Who would have thought that a beastly driver would kill her!" Shen Jun said, covering his face and crying.
Chen Shi ignored his tears and calmly asked, "How was your girlfriend's social life? Did she have mutual friends with you?"
Shen Jun thought for a moment, and Chen Shi wrote it down in Lin Dongxue's notebook. Lin Dongxue noticed his neat handwriting, like someone who practiced calligraphy.
After writing it all down, Chen Shi looked at the list. "That's it? Didn't she have any close female friends?"
"She did, but I don't know them. Why are you asking about this?"
"As police, we need to be thorough. I'm thirsty. Can you get me some water?"
"Sure, wait a moment."
As soon as Shen Jun left, Chen Shi began searching the room. Lin Dongxue whispered, "What are you doing? This isn't following protocol!"
"I'm not a cop," Chen Shi said as he found several boxes of medicine in a drawer and threw them onto the table. When Shen Jun returned, Chen Shi apologized, "Sorry, I just checked your drawer."
Shen Jun looked unhappy but said nothing.
"These boxes of medicine," Chen Shi continued, "are for treating gonorrhea. Are you hiding something from us?"
"Gon... gonorrhea?" Lin Dongxue stared in shock at the sunny young man.
"Well... well..." Shen Jun stammered, biting his lip.
"I hope you're being honest with me. Don't worry, what you say here won't leave this room."
"I... I have gonorrhea!" Shen Jun admitted.
"How did you get it?"
"After our company's annual meeting, some colleagues invited me to a place like that. When I got back, I felt pain and itching down there," Shen Jun said awkwardly, scratching his nose.
"You're lying," Chen Shi said, "Your face and actions show it. I need you to tell the truth!"
Shen Jun's face turned red. "What does this have to do with the case? My illness is my own problem! Mengxing was definitely killed by that driver! Why aren't you investigating him, and instead questioning me?"
"Whether it's relevant is for us to decide! You don't want to admit it? Fine, I'll say it for you. You love your girlfriend, so you're protecting her. The gonorrhea was passed to you by her, right?"
Shen Jun scratched his head nervously. Chen Shi continued, "There are couple mugs on your desk and a photo of the two of you. Every time you mention her name, your eyes change, showing how deep your feelings are. You don't want her reputation ruined. But deep down, you know her private life is messy, and she gave you this disease."
"Enough!" Shen Jun slammed his cup on the table. "I won't let you talk about her like that!"
Lin Dongxue was startled, but Chen Shi calmly lit a cigarette and smiled. "Angry? Looks like I'm right!"
Shen Jun opened the door. "You're not welcome here. Get out!"
"Don't drag me into this!" Lin Dongxue muttered, embarrassed by the situation.
Chen Shi shook his head. "A 25-year-old woman, involved with several men. Her death is likely connected to this. If we leave now, the next time you see the police, they'll tell you, 'Sorry, we couldn't solve the case. Please come collect your girlfriend's body.' If that's the ending you want, fine, we'll go. It's just a little bonus lost to us. But to you, Gu Mengxing will forever curse you from the grave, and the killer will be free. Maybe soon there will be a second or third Gu Mengxing. All of this because you refused to cooperate with the police for the sake of your pride. Wake up!"
As Chen Shi spoke, Lin Dongxue silently mouthed, "Stop," but he ignored her.
Shen Jun stood frozen, his fists clenched, trembling. He suddenly slammed the door, sat in a chair, and began pulling at his hair in anguish. "I'll tell you. She... she really cheated on me, not just once..."
"How did you find out?" Chen Shi asked.
"One time, a colleague told me he saw her go into a hotel with an older man. At first, I didn't believe it, but then I became suspicious. I couldn't sleep, thinking about it. The idea of her, so pure, being with another man... I couldn't sit still. So, I put a tracker on her phone, and I caught her in the act. The funny thing is, it wasn't even the same guy this time."
"Afterward, of course, we fought. I wanted to break up with her, but when she cried, I softened. Later, she didn't even cry anymore. She started defending herself, saying her heart belonged to me, even if her body didn't. I couldn't not believe her, because I loved her so much. Then..."
Shen Jun bitterly shook his head. "She ended up with this disgusting disease and passed it to me."